Air current creating means for pressing machines



Nov. 29, 1932. P, N, BR 1,889,140

AIR CURRENT CREATING MEANS FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed Nov. 2. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 NW L, 5

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A TTORNEY$ Nov. 29, 1932. BRAUN 1,889,140

AIR CURRENT CREATING MEANS FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed Nov. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W QZMWWM A TTORNEY5.

Patented Nov. 29, 1932 pair-Er ,s-TArs-s PATENT on Farce PI-I ILIPN. 'BRAUN, OFSYB-ACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTOTHE:PROSPERITY'GOMPANY INC.,.OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ACORPOBA'IION OFIIEW YORK AIR GURRENTCREATING MEANS FOR PRESSING MAGHINES tm ifled November .2, .1928. Serial No. 316,693.

This invention relates to garment and laundry pressing machinesand has for its object means for alternately passlng air currents by blowing and suction through the padding ofthepressing elements of such machines and through the garment or other article .being operated upon, and particularly means for creating air currents in opposite directions by blowing and suction, controlled by the movement of the movable pressing element of the press or its actuating means and/or by the operator controlled means for actuating said element. A further object is to provide means for blowing While the press is preliminarily closing and for drawingair by suction whenthe press is going under final pressure and is under final pressure. V

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this vinvention reference is hadtothe accompanying drawings in whlch like characters designate corresponding .25 parts inall the Views.

Figure 1 is :a sideelevation of (a pressing machine embodyingmy invention. v

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in section, of the air .current creating means.

Figure .3 is a'fragmentarydetail view of the control valve 'for the air blowing and suction means.

Figure 4 is a modified form of the operating means for the valveshown-in Figure 3.-

I have-here illustrated my invention as a pplied to a-conventional type of laundry or garment;pressingmachine comprising an upper pressing element or head 1 movable I to- 49 ward and from a stationary element oribuck 2,=the latter beingmounted on a bracket or goose neck 3. which in turn .is mounted .on' a suitable frame 4.

Theihead 1;is carried byailever or .yoke 5 pivoted-between its endsat 6 to the frame and is actuated by power actuated mechanism connectecLt-osaidlever 5. I

This power actuating mechanism or means comprises anescillating cylinder 7 ,pivoted at itsiupper end at Stothe frame, apiston or reversely movable member 9:1novable in the cylinder and having iitsrod 10 connected .to the lever 5 through suitable motion transmitting mechanism.

The motion transmitting mechanism is here shown as a bellcrank lever 1.1 pivoted at 12 at its angle to the base of the frame with one iarmextending forwardly and the other upwardly, the piston [rod .10 being pivoted at 13 to the front end ofrtheforwardly extending arm. Theupwardly extending arm ,of the leverll constitutes one link of a toggle and is .pivotedat its upper end at 15 to the other link 16of the toggleythe latter link being pivoted at 17 to the rear arm of the lever 5. The piston 9 .is single acting.

, .or clevis22 pivoted at28 to the rear arm of the lever 5. The counter-springs 18 are-also connected to this coupling. The rod 21 is connected to the spring 20by .a .lostmotion connection and the lostmotion is not taken up untiltheheadis nearlyclosed. This feature forms no part of-this invention.

The motive fiUiClyElS air,.is supplied to the cylinder 7 througha suitable conduit system andthe flow of air through the conduitsystem is controlled by operator-operated.valve means of any suitable construction. The operator-operated valve. means and thepower actuated Ymechanism comprise therefore means for actuating and controlling the actuation of the movable element of thepress.

24 designatesa supply pipe :for the system, the pipe being connected to a suitable source of motive fiuidas compressed air. '25

is a valve casing in said system, the valve casing being connectedby a pipe 26 to an intake port 2'? -inthe head of thecylinder 7.

28 is a normally closed spring pressed 'intakevalve in the casing 25, anol;29 is a normally open exhaust valve therein, the valves being connected together to actas annitiby a stem 29. The pipe 26 leads from the valve casing between the valves 28 and 29. The valves are manually operableas by a push button 30 coacting with a lever 31 which acts on another lever 32, and the latter acts on a stem 33 of the-exhaust valve 29.

Depression of the push button 30 closes the exhaust valve 29 and opens the intake valve 28 so that the motive fluid or air is free to pass from the pipe 24 through the valve casing 25, and pipe 26, to the cylinder 7 to actuate the piston therein. The valves are held in their operated position after the head has traveled a predetermined distance and usually when the head has come down close to the buck so that the operator can not get one hand between the head and the buck.

The'means for holding the valves in their operated position comprises pressure operated means connected in the conduit system to receive air therefrom at a predetermined timer p In the machine here illustrated, the pressure operated *alve holding means is con- 0 trolled by the movement of the piston in the cylinder. The pressure operated means comprises a pressure chamber 34 having a diaphragm 35 therein which acts on a sliding stem 36, the latter coasting with the lever The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 34 is connected by a pipe 37 to a pipe 38 communicating with a casing 39on the pressure side of the cylinder and communicating with the interior of the cylinder through a port 40. This port 40 is located in position to be uncovered by the piston when the pis- 7 ton is wellout on its power stroke and the press head 1 is close to the buck 2.

The pressure in the cylinder 1s released to permit the press to open under the influence of its countersprings 18 and 19, by a normally closed spring pressed release valve 41 in a casing 42 connected to the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 34 by a pipe 43 which connects to the pipe 37. The release valve 41 is operated by a manual or lever 44 grouped with the push button 30.

In order to require both hands .to operate the press, another push button 45 is employed to operate a normally closed exhaust valve 46 located in a casing 47 connected by a pipe 48 to the intake port 27 of the cylinder 7.

The motion transmitting means between the push button 45 and the stem of the exhaust valve 46 is the same as those for the push butshown, insofar as this invention is concerned,

- the push button 45 and its associated mecharssaieo nism may be omitted, since the two hand control forms no part of this invention.

The push buttons 30 and 45 and their associated valve casings and valve mechanism are supported by suitable housings 53 and 54 located in any convenient place on the front side of the machine.

Depression of the push buttons 30 and 45 closes the exhaust valves 29 and 46 and opens the intake valve 28 permitting air to pass from the feed pipe 24 to the cylinder 7 to actuate the piston therein. When the piston uncovers the port 40, air under pressure passes back through the pipes 38, 37 and 52 to the diaphragm chambers 34 and actuating the diaphragm to hold the valves in their operated positions and hence hold the press closed.

- To open the press, the lever 44 is actuated to open the normally closed exhaust valve 41 If the push button 30 is depressed and not the button 45, the air will pass out through the exhaust passage 46 controlled by the exhaust valve 46. If the push button 45 is depressed and not the pushbutton 30, no air will enter the cylinder as the intake valve 28 remains closed. Hence both push buttons must be operated to effect the closing of the press. The construction per se thus far described forms no part of this invention.

The means for alternately passing air currents in opposite directions by blowing and sucking during the closing of the press, is preferably associated with thebuck 2 and controlled. by the actuating means to blow air through the padding and the garment or other article on the buck, when the press head is being preliminarily closed and particularly as it approaches preliminarily closed position or a position close to the buck with little or no pressure, and thereafter to create an air current by suction through the garment.

The buck is formed with a chamber or passage 55 having perforations 56 opening through the pressing face thereof and also with a passage 57 communicating with a passage 58 in the bracket or goose neck 3. The buck is also overlaid with a suitable padding 59. v

The means for creating a current or flow of airby blowing and suction alternately or in opposite directions through the passage 58 is preferably a blower. 60 designates the casing of the blower and 61 the intake and there is an outlet at 61 The rotor or fan of the blower is actuated by an electric motor 62.

air through the passage 58 is controlled by a reversing valve operated *toa'lternatelyconnect the passage 58 to the intake 61 or the outlet eiebf the 'blowei casin "59. v

hen the passage i'sconnectedtothe 'intake"61,air willbe drawn by suction throagh 'the'pipe 58 and hencethroughthe passage and perforations 56, through the padding overlyingthe buck-"drying the padding andhencethearticle or garment thereon.

When the passage '58 is'connect'ed to the outlet er -or theblower,air willbeblown, or flow in a direction opposite to the suction,

through the passages 58, 55 and out through theperforations 56 thus tendingto arrange,

smooth or'lay'the'garnient and the article'or blowany wrinklesout of 'thegarment or article on thebuck.

a rotary valvem'einber 6 l'therein,the valve casing having "four port's arranged at substantially ninety degrees with each other, one port communicating with a short pipe 65 opening into the outer air; a second: port communi'catingwiththe'pipe'66 connected to the intake 610i the blower'pa third port communicating with the pipe 67located' opposite the pipe 66 and communicating with" the outlet ofjthe'fanfandthe' fourth port, which is located opposite the port 65, communicating throughthe pipe 68 withthepassage 58to the buck.

When the parts 'ar'ein the positions shown in Figure 3, the air is drawn'in thr'ough'the pipe 65'and passesoutthrough'the pip'e66 to the intake'oi the'blower, thence through the outlet pipe 67 ofthe blower, through the valve casing 63, andthe pipe'68. The pipe 68 being now in communication with the out 9; let side of the blower, the air is blown" through the padding 5'9 ontl'ie'bu'ck and the'article overlying the buck orthepad 'ding thereon.

When i the valve member 64] is shifted to make a quarter turn to therightor clockwise,

' the air will be drawn'through the pipe 68' and hencethrough the padding and 1 the article on the buck, through the valve casing 63', out through the pipe 66'to-the intakef61, of the blower and forced out throughthe outlet pipe 67' of the blower, the valve "casing 63 on the other side ofthe valve member '64, and

then out through the pipe 65 to the outerair so that an air current is createdby suction through the padding and the garment on the buck.

The valve memberti l is, in thisembodiment of my invention, operated in synchronism with the movement'oi the head 1 by a pressure operated Inotorconnected in'the air system. This motor is'here shown as a cylinder 70 having a suitable piston movable therein and having itsrod 71 connected to a rock arm 72011 ashaft 7 3 on which the reversing valve member6d-is mounted. The piston is single acting andthe cylinder is connected by a pipe 74 inthe conduit system, and, as here shown, the pipe 74 is connected to the casing 39 so that the position of the valve member 64 is shifted, as above describedywhen the piston 9 inthe main cylinder uncovers the port 4.0 to lock the control valves operated by the push buttons 30, 4:5 in their operated positions, this occurring when the pressis preliminarily closedo'r before it goes under final pressure. Thepiston in-the cylinder 70 and its associated parts are returned to their normal position by a spring 75.

lnoperatio'n, the reversmg valve member 6 1 isnormally arranged in its position shown in Figure 3 to blow air through the padding on the buck so that when the article, which is usually damp, is placed on the buck, the air pressure blowingtherethrough will tend to smooth'it out. Upon depression of the push buttons 30 and' i5, the presshead 1 will move into a preliminarily closed position, and when in such-position, the press head 1 is close to the work on-the buck but exerting little or no pressure 'sothat the current of air being blown'throughthe padding bulges the padding upwardly lightly pressing the damp article against the hot head, it being understood that the head and buck, particularly thehead, are heated.

When the head reaches its preliminarily closed position, the piston or reversely movable'member 9 uncovers the port 40 so that the valves which areoperated by the push buttons 30 and 4-.5 arelocked in their operated positionas before described, and also the air pressure passes through the pipe 74 to the cylinder-70 to actuatethepiston therein, and hence thereversing valve member 64 to shift said valvefso that the-pipe 68 is connected to the intake pipe 66 oi the blower to create suctionthrou'gh the article being worked as the press goes under final pressure.

When the press is released by tripping the lever the spring 75 returns the reversing valve member 64 to its original position.

A suitable handle 76 is connected to the arm 72to operate the reversing valve manually at any time so-that if desired air can be again blown 'while'the'head is under full pressure or the suction can be applied while the head is moving into preliminarily closed position. [The handle 76 extends to the front ofthe machine where it is readily accessible. As seen in Figure 4, the valve may be alternately operated continuously by a cylinder 77 having a double acting piston therein, the rod 78 of which is connected to the rock arm 79 of the reversing cylinder 77. The valve 80 may be connected inthe conduit system by a pipe 81. If this pipe81 is connected to the pipe 74, the valve will operate onlyafter the head goes under final pressure or after the piston 9 uncovers the port 40. II" it is connected to the pipes 26, 48, or 90, the piston will be continuously reciprocated during the entire closing of the press and while the press is closed.

The valve mechanism of the cylinder 77 may be of any suitable construction similar to that involved in vacuum operated windshield wipers or automatic reciprocating air motors.

The electric motor 62 is connected in a suitable teed circuit 82, 82* which is opened and closed by a switch 83, this switch being closed when the machine is in operation. The actuation of the motor is automatically controlled by an automatic switch operated or controlled from the air system or the portion thereof controlled by the push buttons 30 and 45. I

The automatic switch comprises spaced apart contacts 84, 85 connected in the feed circuit, the contact 84 being movable and operated by a pressure operated motor as a diaphragm chamber 86 having a diaphragm 87 therein acting on a stem 88 which thrusts against a lever 89 carrying the contact 84. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber 86 is connected by a pipe 90 to the conduit air system and is here shown as connected to the pipe 48.

Obviously, when the push buttons 30. and

45 are depressed to permit air to pass to r the cylinder 7, the air will also pass to the diaphragm chamber 86 actuating the lever 89 to bring the contact 84 into engagement with the contact 85 and thus close the circuit to the motor so that the motor will start to run and actuate the blower during the closing movement of the head 1, and so that the motor will continue to operate as long as the press is closet lVhen the release lever 44 is actuated to open the press by exhausting the air from the diaphragm chamber 34, 50, the air will also exhaust from the diaphragm chamber 86 and the switch contact 84 will break the circuit to the motor.

In the event it is desired to actuate the motor at any time to create air currents, a manually operable switch 91 is provided for closing a shunt circuit 92 around the automatic switch 84, 85. Normally the air will first be blown through the article on the buck, and after the press closes, it will be sucked through the article on' the buck or the air currents can be created at any time by closing the switch 91 and the direction or" flow of the air current controlled at any time by opcrating the handle 76 of the reversing valve What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for passing a current of air against the garment on one of said elements, means to blow the air during the closing of the movable element a predetermined distance toward final closed position, and means to change the direction of the air current during the final closing of the press.

2. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for passing a current of air against the garment on one of said elements in one direction during the preliminary closing of the press and in the opposit-e direction during the movement of the movable pressing element into final press ing position, operator controlled means for actuating the movable element, and means controlled by the operator controlled means for controlling the direction of the air current.

3. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means actuated by the closing movement of the movable element for blowing an air current through one element and the garment thereon during a portion of the closing movement, and means for reversing the air current through said element during the remainder of the closing movement.

4. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, operator-controlled means for actuating the movable element including a conduit system for a motive fluid, means for passing a current of air against the garment on one of said elements in one direction during the closing of the press and in the opposite directions when' the press is closed, and fluid operated means for reversing the air current, the fluid operated means being connected in the conduit system.

5. A garment pressing machine including in combination a buck, a head movable toward and from the buck, the buck having a passage opening through its face, a paddin overlying the buck, operator-controlled means for actuating the head, and means controlled by said last mentioned means for passing currents ofair alternately in opposite directions through the passage in the buck and the padding thereon, whereby the direction of the air current is controlled durin the movement of the head.

6. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means to actuate the movable element, an air conduit arranged to pass the currents; of air through the garment on one of said elements, an air pump having an inlet and outlet, a valve operable to connect said conduit alternately to the inlet and outlet of the pump, and means controlled by the opening and closing of the press for operating said valve.

7. A garment press-ing machine including in combination a'buck, a head movable toward and from the buck, the buck having a passage opening through the face thereof, a conduit connected to said passage, a blower having inlet and outlet passages, a valve operable to connect said conduit alternately to the inlet and outlet of't'he blower, and means for operating the valve.

8. A garment pressing machine including in combination a buck, a. head movable toward and from the buck, the buck having a passage opening through the face thereof, means to actuate the head, a conduit connected to said passage, a blower having inlet and outlet passages, a valve operable to connect said conduit alternately to the inlet and outlet of the blower, and means controlled by the actuating means of the press head to operate said valve.

9.. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating, pressing, elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a fluid operated motor for actuating the movable element, a conduit system for supplying motive fluid to the motor, operator-operated valveimeans in said system for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the motor, means for passing currents of air through the garment on one of said elements and a fluid operated motor connected in said system for controlling said means.

10*. A garment pressing machine including in combination cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a fiuid operated motor for actuating the movable element, a conduit system for supplying motive fluid to the motor, operator-operated valve means in said system for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the motor, a blower, a conduit arranged to pass currents of air against the garment on one of said elements, the blower having an inlet and outlet, a valve operable to connect said conduit alternately to the intake and outlet of the blower during movement of the movable element, pressure operated means for operating the valve, and a conduit connecting the pressure operated means to said system controlled by the operator-operated valve means.

11. In a pressing machine, the combination of cooperating pressing elements, one of Which is movable toward and from the other,

means for actuating the movable element, one of said elements-having a padding, conduit means arranged to pass air currents by suction and blowing through the padding, and means for selectively creating suction and, blowing air currents through the conduit means. V

12. In a pressing machine, the combination of upper and lower cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a padding, conduit means connected torthe lower element beneath the pad-' ding thereof, and operator controlled means for selectively creating air currents through said lower pressing element by blowing and suction through said conduit means.

7 13. Ina garmentpressing machine in com bination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other; blower means for causing a current of air to pass through the work on one of the pressing elements; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element ;:operating means for the blower means; and means operated by the operating mechanism for the movable pressing element to control the operation of the operating means for the blower means.

14. Ina garment pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to' the other having an intake and exhaust; a blower; means for interchangeably connecting: theexhaust and the intake of the blower withone of the pressing elements so as to cause a blowing or sucking air current through the work on the pressing element; a motor for operating the blower; operating mechanism. for the movable pressing element; and means controlled by said operating mechanism for controlling the operation of the blower motor and the means for interchangeably connecting. theeXh-aust and intake of the blower with one of the pressing elements so as to. cause blowing or sucking air currents. V i

15'. Ina garment pressing machine includ-- ing incombination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and I from the ther; means to actuate the movable pressingelement; an. air conduit arranged to pass the currents of air through the garment on one of said elements; an air pump having an inlet and outlet; a valve operable to connect said conduit: alternately tothe inlet. and outlet of the pump; means controlled by the means for opening and closing of the press for operating said valve; and auxiliarymeans for controlling the valve at the will ofthe operator. v V 16. A garment pressing machine including in combination a buck having a passage opening through its face; a headinovable to.- ward and from the buck; a padding overlying the buck; operator controlled means for actuating the head; means controlled by said last mentioned means for passing currents of air alternately in opposite directions through the passage in the buck and the padding thereon; and auxiliary means operable at the will of the operator for controlling the means for passing currents of air.

17. In a garment pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements, one

a, of which is movable with respect to the oth- M nism for the blower means; means operated by the operating mechanism for the movable pressing element to control the, operation of the operating mechanism for the blower means; and auxiliary operator-operated means for controlling the operation of the operating mechanism for the blower means at any time.

18. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating and controlling the actuation of the movable element to open and close the press, air blowing and suction creating means, conduit means connecting the creating means A with one of the pressing elements to blow air to, and suck air from, between said elements, an air flow reversing means located in the conduit means and including a shiftable member for operating the reversing means,

i the actuating meansincluding a reversely movable member, and connections between said shiftable member and the reversely movable member of the actuating means to effect the flow of air in one direction through the conduit means during the closing and opening of the press and in the other direction when the press is substantially closed.

19. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from theother, means for actuating and controlling the actuation of the movable element to open and close the press,

air blowing and suction creating means having an intake and exhaust conduit means connecting the creating means with one of the pressing elements to blow air to, and suck air from, between said elements, a reversing valve connected in said conduitmeans between the intake and exhaust of said one pressing element and including a movable member, a part movable with the actuating means in opposite directions during the openingand closing of the press, and connections between the valve member and said part to shift said valve member during the opening and closing of the press to interchange the intake and the exhaust of the creating means so that the air current in the conduit means will be reversed.

20. In a pressing machine cooperative pressmg elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; means for actuating and controlling the actuation of the movable element to open and close the press including 7 a reversely movable member; means for creating suction and blow currents; conduit means arranged to pass air through the work on one of said pressing elements and connected to the air current creating means; means in the conduit means for controlling said currents to subject the work alternately to the suction and air blowing air currents for passing air through the work in opposite directions; and connections between the air current controlling means and the reversely movable member of the actuating means to o erate the air current controlling means to e ect the flow of oneof said air currents during the opening and closing of the press and the other of said air currents while the press is substantially closed.

21. In a pressing machine cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; means for actuating and controlling the actuation of the movable element to open and close the press including a reversely movable member; means including conduit means connected to one of the pressing elements for blowing air in one direction through the work supported on said pressing element and for sucking air through the work in the opposite direction; means for controlling the flow of the suction and the blowing air; and connections between the air flow control means and the reversely movable member of the actuating means to effect the flow of the blowing current while the press is opening and closing and of the suction current when the press is substantially closed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 31st day of October, 1928.

PHILIP N. BRAUN. 

